Last evening, Rouhui and I met up with Mr Leong Sze Hian. We had a interesThink conversation about everything from CPF to LKY.
But, truly, it is not just about the controversy that Sze Hian stirs that lies in the essence of the conversation. Rather, it is his nature that makes the conversation meaningful.
Sze Hian is really truly grassroot - And with a heart. Unlike the usual middle-aged and successful man, Sze Hian takes up controversial issues and battles them. A heart, sometimes, is the one important thing that Singaporeans find missing in the faceless, efficient bureaucracy that is serving them.
Your focus might be on the controversies that Sze Hian champions. Yet, are those issues really controversial? No. Sze Hian is merely being responsible. Being a responsible citizen does not end with merely casting your vote. Your responsibility has only just begun - You have to monitor and observe if your votes have truly delivered.
I would say that the role Sze Hian plays is of a monitoring role. He studies the parliament debates. He highlights the stories of Singaporean in financial difficulties. He observes what our policies has delivered and, more important, not delivered.
Mr Leong Sze Hain is a responsible Singaporean.
Come hear Sze Hian on this 23 February 2008. Meanwhile, you can find out more about him at his homepage or at The Online Citizen.
Kelvin Quee
Finally took a look at the interesthink.com website. First thing I did when I got there was click the link for this blog. And the first thing I read on this blog was this post.
Must say I’m quite impressed. Mr Leong Sze Hain clearly understands that a big part of democracy is government accountability. That won’t come without a check and balance on the government to prevent its excesses. And neither of those things will come without free speech and a free press. None of those three will come without citizens who care enough to demand them.
Mr Leong is obviously one such Singaporean citizen. And I hope to see this blog grow to become one such avenue for Singaporeans to get the information and awareness they need to demand government accountability, and to demand their rights. Strong civil society is one of the best checks and balances on the government.
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